Adjustable support means for liquid dispensing vessels



March 20, 1962 M. E. STACK 3,026,079

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR LIQUID DISPENSING VESSELS Filed April 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

MARY E. STACK March 20, 1962 M. E. STACK 3,026,079

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR LIQUID DISPENSING VESSELS Filed April 4, 1960 2 SheetsSheet 2 MARY E. STACK INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3.026,079 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR LIQUID DISPENSING VESSELS Mary E. Stack, 1006 Spring St., Rhododendron Apt, Seattie, Wash. Filed Apr. 4, 1969, Ser. No. 19,676 3 Claims. (Cl. 248125) This present invention relates to that general class of accessory devices used primarily in hospitals and more particularly to an adjustable means for positioning liquid dispensing vessels and which employs means which fit between the mattress and springs supporting the mattress so as to hold the adjustable stand in its position of use.

This present equipment is designed for particular use with my equipment for giving peristaltic enemas and which are shown in US. patents, Nos. 2,606,557 and 2,832,341. In this use it becomes necessary to have a means that can normally be easily adjusted by one hand as the nurse or operator usually is required to hold the injection tube with one hand yet it is many times very critical that the proper hydraulic pressure he provided. It therefore becomes very desirable to be able to quickly make small changes in elevation to increase or decrease the volume of the fluid involved in the injection. It follows that when a device is provided for one purpose it may also serve many other purposes and in this present instance this device, while desirable for use with my previous equipment, has found to be also particularly useful in giving blood plasma or intravenous feedings to patients. In both these cases the flow is dependent upon the height of the fluid container and in the beginning of an injection it is very desirable that the nurse have hold of the injection needle, so that it will not be displaced from a blood vessel, and still be able to change the pressure on the fluid by raising the height of the vessel from which the fluid flows. To be able to do this with one hand, as is provided for in this present equipment, has been found to be a very great aid in treating many types of hospital patients.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to provide an adjustable support means for a fluid vessel which may be secured in operational position by inserting the spaced apart feet of the stand between the mattress and springs of a hospital bed for instance or between the table surface and the pad on which a patient may be lying While he is being given a treatment or being transported about the hospital on an operating table of the type having caster wheels for such a purpose.

A further object of this invention is to provide an easily adjustable means so that the vessel containing the fluid, which is being used in the treatment of a patient, can be easily adjusted in vertical position by the use of only one hand of the operator.

A further object of this invention is to provide vertical adjustment means for fluid vessels in which the adjusted position is a fixed one not dependent upon friction in any way but which has a definite relationship in height to the other adjacent adjusting means on a quadrant so that the operator can readily make an adjustment to reduce or increase the volume of the flowing liquid and know in advance exactly the amount of that increase or decrease.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing my device in its preferred arrangement in solid lines and illustrating appropriate supported vessels in dashed lines.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of my device showing the same in association with a hospital bed and mattress "ice which are shown in dashed lines and illustrating successive positions of the adjusting arm in dashed lines.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper adjusting arm and the coacting parts of the supporting standard in order to show the cooperative relationship between these various parts.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, numeral 10 designates the vertical standard, which in order to keep the overah weight of the device to a minimum is normally made of tubing, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Standard 10 is supported in its vertical position by a bottom fitting or base 20. At its upper end standard 10 is provided with a special top fitting 30 to which is pivotably secured the quadrant arm 40 in a manner permitting limited vertical movement, in addition to its arcuate movement.

The bottom fitting or base 20 is provided with the well spaced base members 22 and 24. These base members having straight foot portions 22a and 24a respectively that are preferably of substantial width but of minimum height so that they become in effect rigid straps that can be easily slid between a mattress and a spring or between the top of an operating or conveying table and the pad thereon. The foot portions have a substantially flat bottom and arcuate top surfaces. To define substantial width and minimum height an acceptable proportion is a height of /s" at the outer end to /2" at the anchor end of the feet and a Width 1%" at the outer end and 1%" at the anchor end. The general form of base 20 is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 in which it will be noted that the longitudinal axes of the individual base members 22 and 24 are divergently positioned. Each of the foot members is provided with horizontally disposed curved end portions joining or terminating in a semicyclindrical sleeve portion as 26 and 27. A clamping bolt 28 serving to secure the standard 10 and the sleeve portions together with said curvedend portions when secured to said standard, together with base members 22 and 24, forming a horizontally disposed U-shaped bend centered on said standard. This arrangement permits the easy disassembly of this portion of the support means and makes it convenient for shipping as well as for storing during periods in which it is not being used. By having the upward extent of the semicylindrical portions 26 and 27 of reasonable length they provide a very secure base for standard 10.

At its upper end tube 10, which forms the standard, is provided with a top fitting which is probably best illustrated in FIGURE 4 and to a lesser degree in FIG- URE 3. Here it will be noted that fitting 30 has a flange 31 that has the same outside diameter as tube 10 and this fitting is provided with a downwardly extending plug portion 33 adapted to snugly fit inside of standard 10 in order to give security while the device is in use and yet permit ready disassembly of the same for storage, transportation and the like. At its upper end fitting 30 is provided with a relatively thin flat portion 34. At its upper end this flattened portion 34 is provided with the axially disposed slot 36 to accommodate the enlarged portion 37 of the pivot pin 38. Near its lower end surface the fiat portion 34 is provided with a riveted-in-place twodiameter pin 39 forming the locating pin which determines the angular position of quadrant arm 40. The two diameter body is used with all three pins and rivets to assure ample clearance from the quadrant arm.

Quadrant arm 40 is provided with the quadrant portion 42 having a plurality of tooth-like members 43 between which are provided the open end slots 44. The form and proportions of each of the slots 44 should be such that they will provide a round, engaging surface 45 to freely engage the larger step portion of rivet 39. At its outer ends the side walls or slots 44 join the circular-end portions 46 of the tooth-like lug members 43 providing a very convenient centering arrangement so that as the operator makes an adjustment of the quadrant, with one hand, it is only necessary to raise the quadrant arm to disengage the slot 44 being-used from rivet 39 and to then move the quadrant about pivot pin 38. Because of the freedom provided by the curved end portions 46 the toothed quadrant can again be readily engaged with rivet 39.

V The general form of quadrant arm 40 is quite well illustrated throughout the various drawings and particularly in FIGURE 3 in which it will be noted that the arm portion 50 is substantially at right angles to the median line oftquadrant 42. At its extreme outer end arm 50 is provided with what in effect is an enlarged bearing plate 52,

, preferably formed circularly and centered upon opening 54. For its principal purpose this device is preferably constructed with a riveted-in load supporting pin 56. This pin is provided preferably with a large flat head so as to form the engagement space or annular channel 60 with a predetermined width which will engage a fitting such as the one shown in dashed lines at 62 in FIGURE 1. In viewing this figure it will be believed apparent that it is desirable that the bearing surfaces of plate 52 be of sufficient width to engage member 62 so as to support it adequately in case one of the cans as 64 might at one time contain more liquid than the other can 66. These cans and the appropriate fitting 62 form no part of this present invention but are components employed with the patents noted in the preamble to this application and are illustrated and discussed in order to show the coaction between the particular structure of arm 50 and the equipjment for which it is normally designed for use.

Method of Use In using my present support means for'fiuid containers, reference is made to FIGURE 1 which illustrates some of the equipment of my former patent applications as previously noted. In using my stand in its prime intended use it is very necessary to have a convenient means for "adjusting the vertical height of the fluid containers 64 and 66-50 that the fluid flow may be increased or decreased at the will of the nurse. In the treatment of persons who have very low vitality, as the result of long illness, it is necessary that adequate graduation of volume be achievable and it is in-such cases that this equipment is particularly useful. If it is decided that the liquid containers should beraised to give additional volume then the operator grasps the substantially horizontal portion 50 of 'quadrantarm 40 raising the whole assembly including the This act disengages the previously engaged slot 44 from contact with rivet 39 and permits the whole quadrant and any weight it supports to be revolved around 'pivot pin 38. The operator will normally determine for the equipment used a degree of calibration so the moving 'of the quadrant 42, one tooth on either side of the original starting point, can be revolved to give the height required when another'open end slot 44 is engaged with rivet 39.

'The position of the quadrant arm 40 is re-established as.

fixe'd'and a new elevation will be given to the fluid containers whether it is containers as shown in FIGURE 1 or possibly a container such'as shown in FIGURE 2 at 70 which is of a general type that is used for administering blood plasma or intravenous feedings. In the case of container 70 it will be necesary to have some supporting means as 72 which will-engage member 56 or this member mayberemoved 'and attachment made by suitable means passing through opening 54. In any case, however, it is desirable that the'fluid vessel be capableof swingingabout opening 54 as a center. It is for this reason that arm 40 has considerable length so that even though the most unfavorable of slots 44 are engaged by rivet 39 the fluid container .will still swing freely, facilitating uniform flow from the container.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of vertically adjusted'means for liquid dispensing vessels.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. An adjustable support means for liquid dispensing vesseis, comprising: a vertically disposed standard of tubular form; a base having two spaced apartbase members; said base members having subtantially straight foot portions each of minimum height and substantial width and an arcuate top surface; said base members having a sleeve portion adapted to partially encircle the bottom of said standard and a horizontally curved portion on each of said base members intermediate the foot portion and sleeve portion; a bolt passing through said sleeve portions and said standard for clamping said base members onto said standard; a top fitting secured to the top of said standard and having a relatively thin fiat portion extending verticallyand an axially disposed slot adjacent the upper end of said flat portion; a rivet secured in the lower portion of said fiat portion and having an enlarged head spaced away from said flat portion to form a guideway; a quadrant arm slidably and pivotally secured to said flat portion of said top fitting by a pivot pin, vertically slidable in said axial slot; said quadrant arm having a quadrant formed of a plurality of substantially radial teeth disposed in a circle about said pivot pin, said teeth engaging said guideway and having slots between them adapted to selectively engage said rivet; said quadrant arm having an arm portion terminating in vertically disposed bearing plate having a central opening to facilitate securing liquid dispensing vessels thereto.

2. An adjustable support means for liquid dispensing vessels, comprising: a vertically disposed standard; a substantially U-shaped base having two divergently disposed base members, said standard secured to said base at substantially the center of the U base; a top fitting secured in the top of said standard and having a relatively thin fiat portion extending vertically and .an axially disposed slot adjacent the upper end of said flat portion; a rivet secured in the lower portion of said flat portion and having an enlarged head spaced away from said fiat portion to form a guideway; 21 quadrant arm slidably and pivotably secured to said top fitting by a pivot pin, vertically slidable in said axial slot; said quadrant arm having a quadrant formed of aplurality of substantially radial positioned lug members disposed in a circle about said pivot pin, said lugs having slots between them adapted to selectively engage said rivet; said quadrant arm having an arm portion terminating in a vertically disposed bear ing plate having a load supporting pin provided with a large flat head spaced away from said bearing plate and parallel to it to facilitate securing liquid dispensing vessels thereto.

3. An adjustable support means for liquid dispensing vessels, comprising: a vertically disposed standard; a base having two spaced base members each having a substantially straight foot portion of flat strap form; a semicylindrical sleeve portion terminating one end of each of said base members and adapted to partially encicle the bottom of said standard; a horizontal-1y disposed curved end on each of said base members terminating in said sleeves; means for clamping said sleeves on said standard; a top fitting removably secured in the top of said standard and having a relatively thin flat portion extending vertically and an axially disposed slot adjacent the upper end of said fiat portion; a rivet fixedly secured in the lower portion ofsaid fiat portion and having an enlargedheadspaced away from said Jfiat portion to form a guideway; a quadrant ann slidably and pivotably secured to said flat portion of said top fitting by a pivot pin, vertically slidable in said axial slot; said pivot pin having an enlarged flat head on the side of said flat portion of the top fitting opposite the side engaging said quadrant arm; said quadrant arm having a quadrant formed with a plurality of substantially radial teeth disposed in a circle about said pivot pin, said teeth having slots between them adapted to selectively engage said rivet; said quadrant arm having an arm portion disposed substantially at right angles to the median line of said quadrant and terminating in a vertically disposed bearing plate having a central opening to facilitate securing liquid dispensing vessels thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS B ain Sept. 28, Foster Dec. 24, Honsowets July 5, Hansen Aug. 30, Wolfe June 11, Orford Oct. 3, Tavone July 21,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 25, Great Britain Sept. 4, 

